Someone who claims to be “willing to try anything once” is often seen as brave. This person will be the first one to be invited to a sushi diner or to go sky diving.
But I’ve done a lot of things once. Once, I managed to climb a tall excruciating mountain. Once I found the place I was headed for without having to turn around or call for directions. Once I ate something I thought I wouldn’t like.
The real challenge is not when you do something for the first time. The real challenge comes when you do something once, realize how hard it is the first time, and dare to do it again.
Christ commands us to do things that are hard. We know that they are hard because we tried them once already and know the pain it caused. “Love your enemies. Forgive four hundred and ninety times. Don’t keep record of wrongs.”
I’ve tried all of these things once – I’ve loved, I’ve forgiven. But is that truly the goal, or only the first step? Again and again God proved to the Israelites that He was slow to anger by forgiving them, coming to their rescue. How often do I reflect this?
Today, I have a new plan of action. I’m going to think back to something I did that was hard, something I didn’t really enjoy doing, but should have. Then I’ll do it again. Because God doesn’t call us to just test the water. He calls us to leap out of the boat and start walking.
